The excitement of everyone in Team 7 passing the test did not last long. The next day, Kakashi brought them a mountain of D-rank missions-weeding, picking up trash, finding pets, babysitting... the list was endless.
Naruto wailed incessantly, Sasuke wore a dark expression, and Sakura was bored out of her mind. Only Ling accepted it all calmly, displaying astonishing efficiency as he carried out the missions. He controlled streams of water to clean the streets several times faster than anyone else, cut weeds with precise threads of water, and even used Water Clones to handle several chores at once. He turned these tedious tasks into an unconventional training ground for chakra control and Shape Transformation.
Watching Ling work with almost mechanical efficiency, Kakashi marveled at the boy's truly monstrous chakra control and grew even more certain that giving him more time to train independently had been the right decision. Keeping a genius like him bogged down in D-rank missions really was a waste.
One afternoon a few days later, after they finished yet another mission clearing rubbish from a river, Kakashi announced that they would wrap up early.
"Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, the three of you will do another round of teamwork training. Here's what you'll be doing..." Kakashi laid out their assignment.
Then he turned to Ling. "Ling, Lord Hokage has approved your training plan. This is the preliminary foundation work. Go to Training Ground Seven, beside Training Ground Three, and practice on your own. Report your progress to me when you're finished." He handed Ling a scroll.
"Yes, Kakashi-sensei." Ling accepted the scroll, understanding that this was both the beginning of his independent training and another test of Kakashi's-an opportunity to see how he would use that freedom.
Training Ground Seven was relatively secluded, with lush trees and a stream running through it. It was ideal for practicing Water Release and offered plenty of privacy.
Ling unrolled the scroll. It contained the preliminary training plan Kakashi had devised: mostly exercises in exceptionally fine chakra control, such as walking on water without creating ripples and controlling several streams of water along different paths at once, along with hand seal techniques for some advanced Water Release techniques and brief explanations of their principles. The material was solid and suited the limits of a genius genin, yet it deftly avoided any area that might touch upon Tobirama's legacy.
Hmph. Nothing remarkable, but it'll do for building a foundation, Tobirama remarked. But this is just the work we do for show. Now, let's begin our real lessons.
Ling first completed every exercise on the scroll in short order, deliberately keeping his performance above standard without exceeding "a genius as Kakashi understood one" by too much. By the time he finished, the sun had only just begun its westward descent.
Good, those miscellaneous exercises are out of the way. There was a hint of impatience in Tobirama's voice. Now, concentrate! I'm going to impart the most basic principles of the Flying Thunder God Technique's formula construction and the essentials of Spatial Perception!
A vast stream of information flooded Ling's mind in an instant. It was not merely words or images, but a composite of countless complex geometric structures, spatial coordinate conversion formulas, patterns of instantaneous chakra bursts, and Tobirama's own unique understanding and insights into space-time. Had Ling's mental strength not been tempered over a long period, with Tobirama's soul fragment cushioning the impact, this torrent of information would have been enough to shatter an ordinary chunin's mind.
Ling let out a muffled groan. His face went pale in an instant, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and concentrated, devoting all his effort to absorbing this knowledge far ahead of its time.
The core of the Flying Thunder God Technique lies in marking and perception. Tobirama's voice echoed in his mind like that of the strictest professor. First, you must master the most basic formula rune. It is not merely a coordinate, but a beacon that resonates with your chakra! Use your pure water chakra to try condensing and constructing it! Remember, its structure must be absolutely precise. Even the slightest deviation could cause a teleportation error, or trap you in the Space-Time Rift!
Ling drew a deep breath and extended his right index finger. Azure chakra of unparalleled purity gathered at his fingertip like flowing crystal. He worked to recall the most basic Flying Thunder God Formula in his mind-a pattern that seemed simple yet held endless mysteries.
He carefully guided his chakra, trying to construct it. But the pattern was incredibly complex, demanding an absurd degree of precision in chakra control. He had only traced the first two strokes when the condensed chakra fluctuated violently and dispersed with a soft pop.
Too crude! Tobirama criticized mercilessly. Your chakra control may be among the best of your peers, but it's nowhere near enough for Flying Thunder God! Imagine carving a palace on a strand of your hair! Again!
Undeterred, Ling gathered his chakra again and threw himself into the task with complete concentration. He failed again and again, his chakra repeatedly dispersing as both his mental energy and chakra dwindled rapidly. Yet with every fresh attempt, the pattern grew a little more stable and lasted a fraction longer.
The sun sank in the west, and the woods grew dim. Ling had nearly exhausted his chakra. He was mentally drained, his face as pale as paper. Yet at his slightly trembling fingertip, a simple Flying Thunder God Formula made of intensely condensed pure water chakra finally held together for just over three seconds. It was only the size of a fingernail and remained extremely unstable, its edges constantly rippling.
...You barely qualify as having reached the threshold. Tobirama's assessment remained harsh, though it seemed to conceal a nearly imperceptible trace of satisfaction. Remember this feeling. Starting today, after finishing your basic training, you must spend at least two hours every day practicing formula construction! Keep at it until you can instantly condense a perfectly stable formula!
"Yes... Teacher Tobirama." Panting, Ling withdrew his hand, and the formula vanished at once. He felt more exhausted than ever before, but excitement filled him as well. He had finally reached the threshold of this miraculous technique.
Just as he was about to meditate and recover, Tobirama suddenly issued a warning.
Hmm? There's a little rat watching from a distance. Tobirama's perception far surpassed Ling's. Someone from Root. It seems Danzo hasn't eased his surveillance just because you've been keeping a low profile.
Ling inwardly tensed. He immediately suppressed every trace of his presence, restored a calm expression, and pretended to be doing ordinary chakra control exercises-moving his fingers to guide streams of water into various patterns in the air. On the surface, it resembled his earlier efforts to condense chakra to the utmost, but the substance was worlds apart.
In the shadows of the distant woods, a Root ninja wearing an animal mask lurked silently. After observing for a while, he seemed to find nothing unusual and withdrew without a sound.
Hmph. Vermin skulking in the shadows, Tobirama said coldly. Your independent training time has only given them more opportunities to spy on you. From now on, you must be more careful during crucial training, or... find a way to set up a barrier that blocks their probing.
Ling took a deep breath and suppressed his unease. It seemed that even with his limited freedom, the eyes in the shadows had never left him. His path to growth was destined to be anything but smooth.
He settled into a cross-legged position and began refining chakra, all the while recalling every sensation from constructing the formula. The door to Flying Thunder God had opened a crack for him, but the road beyond was long, strewn with thorns and watched by prying eyes.
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